“Hotter Than Oxford”

Match: 18 / 445

Won by 63 runs

Team	Total
FFTMCC	196 - 7
R. Turner 71, C. Williams 40
Enstone CC	133 - 8
J. Pearson 2 - 8, G. Timms 2 - 12

After three false starts the FFTMCC finally got their season underway on the 6th May. This year, eschewing the frozen wastes of the Eastern European principality of Enstonia they instead headed for the Caribbean paradise of Enstona & Barbuda. It was glorious, temperatures in the high 70’s and 1970’s heavy rock music inexplicably blasting out of the clubhouse for most of the first innings.

So how had the winter fitness training gone? Was everyone still in good nick after the nets which had finished four weeks previously? We were about to find out. Skipper Gary’s first action on the pitch was to lose the toss, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Enstona, perhaps still scarred by the memory of the fight back last year, decided to field first. The decision was met with a certain relief as it would be they and not us running around in the outfield first as the mercury pushed eighty.

Arriving at Enstona & Barbuda.

First into bat were James Pearson and Russell Turner. It was soon clear that they weren’t getting value for their shots as strokes which would normally race to the boundary were instead stopping short in the massive outfield. In one over the pair ran a three, a two, a one and then a three in consecutive balls before (to no-bodies surprise) finishing the over with a couple of dead bats. After 20 overs it was all going really rather well with the partnership reaching 85. Soon afterwards Pearson (30) succumbed to a ball which bounced twice before hitting his wicket. As he trudged from the field his teammates discussed whether that was now a fair delivery at this level.

Turner forged on first with Lucan (21, out to a great catch from Watts), with whom he scored his second 50 partnership of the innings (nobody realised) and then with Chris Williams (40). Chris is searching for a new nickname; but seeing that every time it comes up in conversation, someone will say “what is Pop’s new nickname?” it’s unlikely that anything else is going to stick. His innings was truly remarkable as it lasted for twenty one balls with not a single dot. Russ did at least get an ovation when he reached 50 and then another badly timed ripple of applause as he passed his previous high of 63. Around this time the conversation will inevitably turn to whether he has the overs left to reach a century, however this was quickly curtailed when he was triggered LBW for 71. Well played dude, just remember, one swallow does not a summer make.

With runs already on the board and wickets in hand, the rest of the team had licence to get out in a variety of incompetent ways. Hoskins (0), Timms (3) and Reeves (8) all swung and missed until Vermaak (2 n.o.) and Hotson (4 n.o.) bought the innings to a conclusion with a more than respectable 196 in 40 overs.

Turner celebrates losing some weight by staying out in the middle for longer than a few overs.

A delicious tea was taken outside, with the music alternating between 80’s disco and 70’s prog rock. Everyone was just settling down to a couple of pints and a nice chat before it was pointed out that it was now our turn to swelter in the blazing sunshine for 40 overs. So we went out in to the field and waited for Jake, then hung around a bit, chatted to the batsmen, lit a barbeque, watched Jake come out the changing rooms minus any wicket keeping attire, watched the grass grow a bit, thought we saw a buzzard or maybe it was a kestrel, saw Jake was nearly ready, discussed whether a wicket keeper could be timed out, built a replica of the clubhouse out of match sticks, when suddenly Jake arrived behind the stumps and play could begin.

The new cherry was handed to Newman (6-0-13-1) and then Rundle (or Rondle as the scorebook has it, 7-2-27-0.) The two opening batsmen looked handy until Reeves (6-0-23-1) got one to nip back and dismiss S Parker (22), winning the Champagne moment in the process. Shortly after, S King (38) had to retire for a few overs due to the Caribbean heat. Although he returned at the fall of the third wicket, the fight seemed to have been knocked out of him and he went soon after to a neat caught and bowled from Timms (6-1-12-2.)

With the two main threats gone, Enstona never really recovered and 63 after 20 overs and 92 after 31 showed that they were falling well behind the required rate although hope was renewed as the overs bowled seemed to go down rather than up until the scorebook was checked.

Rare footage of Corne (with bat) not molesting Dave Shorten’s dog (midge).

Captain Timms was afforded the luxury of mixing up his bowling attack and sparing the bowlers by using them in rotation. Hoskins (8-2-17-1) picked up his obligatory wicket, Vermaak (3-0-7-1) bowled a good line and length and Pearson (2-1-8-2) missed out on a hat-trick. The only one to struggle for direction was Pops (2-0-22-0), but he can be forgiven after his heroics with the bat.

In the end, Enstona limped to 133 for eight and we could all head to the bar. Enstona were one or two players short, but we’ve all been there and such is the lot of any village / pub team. They made great hosts and we’ll be sure to ink this one in for the same time next year.

As some of the heat went out of the day and with a Bank Holiday Monday in prospect the team were happy to hang around for a beer or two. Russ recounted nearly getting in to a fight at a recent David Bowie tribute concert, whilst Reeves and Timms delivered a series of lame Bowie puns. So, despite being absolute beginners this season, at no point were we really under pressure, we were all heroes (special mention to Jake behind the stumps) and everything turned out hunky dory. Perfect.

‘Reevsie’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far from the MCC versus Enstone CC Played at Enstona & Bermuda, 6 May 2018 Enstone CC won the toss and elected to field Far from the MCC won by 63 runs Far from the MCC debuts: none

18 / 445 40 over match

Team	Far from the MCC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	J. W. Pearson	b Gunesh	30	(64)	1	-	1-87
2	R. P. Turner	lbw b Anthony	71	(96)	3	-	3-144
3	R. J. T. Hadfield	c Watts b Anthony	21	(39)	1	-	2-139
4	C. T. J. Williams	c Forder b Stewart	40	(19)	5	-	7-191
5	J. D. Hoskins	b Parker	0	(2)	-	-	4-147
6	G. J. Timms *	lbw b Anthony	3	(8)	-	-	5-156
7	M. K. Reeves	b Stewart	8	(5)	1	-	6-177
8	C. J. Vermaak	not out	2	(3)	-	-	-
9	J. C. W. Hotson †	not out	4	(8)	-	-	-
10	J. Newman-Robson
11	M. S. Rundle
	Extras	NB4, W8, LB1, B4	17
	TOTAL	(for 7 wickets, 40 overs)	196

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts	Econ
1	Anthony	8	1	33	3	4.13
2	Brook	8	1	31	0	3.88
3	Watts	8	1	29	0	3.63
4	Stewart	8	0	47	2	5.88
5	Gunesh	4	0	20	1	5.00
6	King	2	0	13	0	6.50
7	Parker	2	0	16	1	8.00

Team	Enstone CC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	S. King	c and b Timms	38		4	-
2	S. Parker	b Reeves	22		-	1
3	Haroon	b Hoskins	2		-	-
4	F. Forder	c Hotson b Timms	13		1	-
5	B. Gregory	b Pearson	7		-	-
6	S. Prangnell	b Vermaak	5		-	-
7	M. Brook	not out	33		4	-	-
8	Gunesh	b Pearson	0		-	-
9	K. Anthony *	b Newman-Robson	3		-	-
10	J. Watts	not out	1		-	-	-
11	D. Stewart
	Extras	NB3, W2, LB1, B3	9
	TOTAL	(for 8 wickets, 40 overs)	133

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts	Econ
1	Newman-Robson	6	0	13	1	2.17
2	Rundle	7	2	27	0	3.86
3	Reeves	6	0	23	1	3.83
4	Hoskins	8	2	17	1	2.13
5	Timms	6	1	12	2	2.00
6	Vermaak	3	0	7	1	2.33
7	Williams	2	0	22	0	11.00
8	Pearson	2	1	8	2	4.00

MOTM: R. P. Turner Champagne Moment: M. K. Reeves’ inswinging wicket (bowled) Buffet Award: C. T. J. Williams’ spring greens Caesar salad with pickled shallot MAD Moment: n/a

Opposition: V073 / 08 Ground: G061 / 05 Captain: C022 / 66 Match No: 40 / 135